If you’re anything like me, nothing looks better than a crisp white T-shirt paired with jeans, shorts, anything really. But that awesomely casual aesthetic can be ruined too easily by the appearance of unwelcome underarm stains. So I set out to defy this wardrobe enemy and discovered Put This On, my new favorite site for men’s fashion. Here’s what they say will make those dreaded stains disappear:

The Cause
First things first, your shirt’s yellow stains aren’t caused by sweat. They’re actually caused by a chemical reaction between your sweat and the aluminum in your Old Spice. Aluminum puts the anti in antiperspirant.

The Solutions

Science: For the thrifty and chemically inclined, equal parts hydrogen peroxide and water, mixed with baking soda and rubbed into your stains (use a small, soft brush) will clean your shirts right up. It’ll be cheaper than any other brand-name solution.

Oxi-Clean: Billy Mays was a great man, and shame on me for not trusting his product, because it works. If you want to go the brand-name route, use Oxi-Clean on your stains, just rub it on, soak it in, and toss it into a load of laundry. Use it with the hottest water your shirt will allow, and your clothes will look like new.

Note: these methods work best on white fabrics. Approach your colored button-downs with caution. Experiment on a hem beforetaking your cleaning solutions to your shirt’s more conspicuous areas.

By Marcus Miller, Staff Writer

What are your wardrobe life-savers? Share them in the comments below or tweet us @ruelala.

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One of the latest trends for men, especially for summer, are simple bracelets, stacked on the wrist. But how much is too much? As you can see, adding just a couple of bands along with your watch adds a subtle, personal touch to your look.

You can find braided, woven, metal, and beaded pieces like those above at vineyard vines, J.Crew, and one of my favorites, Burkman Bros. Try wearing a variety of materials, like rope, leather, or nylon, to add a bit more dimension and texture. And don’t forget: variety is good for the soul.

Last winter, I finally caved and bought an over-the-door shoe organizer for my closet. Twenty-four pockets, canvas (vinyl will break, I assure you – man shoes are heavy), and room enough for 12 pairs.

The Art of Manliness says a man should own at least three or four pairs of shoes, for a solid rotation. Put This On recommends seven essential pairs. I, on the other hand, have 14 pairs – yes, I’m a self-respecting man with over a dozen pairs of shoes. Though I may never achieve a collection that rivals the billionaire mayor of New York City, I’m willing to try.

Here are a few highlights from the today’s Shoe La La: Our Semi-Annual Shoe Sale guaranteed to fill in my new shoe organizer:

Continue reading “The (Men’s) Shoe Closet” »

Some of us are lucky enough to wear jeans to work. And some of us? It’s all button-downs and tailored suits. But no matter your office dress code, these are the fresh pieces your wardrobe’s been missing - you just didn’t know it yet.

The Beige Blazer
This neutral staple is like wardrobe gold. It’s dressy enough for the office but holds its own over jeans, meaning post-work drinks at the bar (or a date) get a polished update.

The Corduroy Pant
Meet your new casual Friday favorite. Adding just enough interest without being over the top, these cords give your go-to blues a run for their money.

The Herringbone Blazer
That office A/C is killer, but there’s no need for threadbare sweaters. Keep this blazer on hand when it gets too cold – or wear it as a light jacket when temps start to dip.

The Black Denim Suit
No, we didn’t flash back to the ’70s. Black denim gives suits a modern spin that’s ultra luxe and decidedly classic.

Our Dolce&Gabbana Boutique opens July 29 at 11AM ET.

By Melissa Mann, Staff Writer

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Finally: the mystery of how to tie the ever-befuddling bow tie has been solved, below.

Step 1: Prep the tie so the right side is about two inches lower.
Step 2: Cross the longer side over the shorter side.
Step 3 and 4: Pull the long side up and under, then throw it over your shoulder – you’ll come back to it later.
Step 5: This is the most important part! Form a half bow with the short side, making sure your thumb and forefinger are securely in place in the middle. You won’t be able to tighten the bow tie after this step, so try to get it as close to your neck as possible.
Step 6: Take the longer side back (the one that’s been sitting on your shoulder) and pull down between the two sides.
Step 7: This step is a little tricky, so it might take a little practice. Grab both sides of the bow and pull forward. Take the longer side that’s in front and pull it down and back. You should see a little tiny hole – loop the end through there and pull through. Adjust as necessary to make sure the bow tie is even.
Step 8: Ta-da! You’ve just successfully tied a bow tie.

Snag this very bow tie (plus plenty of others) and the collared shirts to go with them in our Get to Work: Men’s Suiting & Accessories Boutique, launching today, July 22, at 11AM ET.

- By Melissa Mann, Staff Writer

Have your own tips for tying a bow tie? Tell us in the comments or tweet us @ruelala.

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‘Tis the season for Patriotism, but before I get all “America the Beautiful,” let’s take a moment to salute our fellow countries for the things we love: France for fashion (and croissants), Costa Rica for coffee, and Canada for, well, Ryan Gosling. But what does America have to brag about? GQ lists 50 things we do better than anyone else – here are my faves:

Oysters
These slippery little suckers thrive in our 12,380 miles of coastline, producing diverse and distinctive types that pair deliciously with horseradish-heavy cocktail sauce or an artfully crafted mignonette.

Fast Food
Whether it be the growing food truck fad, a hearty ballpark hotdog, or a good, old-fashioned Chick-fil-A sandwich, we’ve got this one in the (doggy) bag.

The T-Shirt
It really doesn’t get more American than a perfectly worn-in t-shirt – and, let’s be serious, this comfortable classic won’t be going out of style any time soon.

Getting Mad as Hell
As proven by the new (and smartly hilarious) HBO series The Newsroom, a good rant is all it takes to grab people’s attention.

National Colors
Yes – there is a way to sport our beloved red, white, and blue (any time of year) without looking like an American flag.

What are your favorite things about America? Tweet us @ruelala.

- By Abigail Kuzia, Editor

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Ever wonder how these iconic slip-ons got their start? Read on for a little loafer history (and check out how to wear them here), then take your newfound knowledge over to our Donald J Pliner Boutique and check out the preppy mainstay in all its glory.

-By Keriann Coffey, Associate Blog Editor

Our Donald J Pliner Boutique opens today, July 13 at 11AM ET.

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Even though The Great Gatsby won’t be hitting theaters until the holidays, we’ve already watched the trailer a few times (okay, maybe more than a few). We were not at all surprised to read on Refinery29 that Brooks Brothers is behind all those debonaire duds that Leo is sporting in the film.

In honor of Mr. Gatsby, we looked through our own Brooks Brothers Boutique opening today, and selected a few of our most dapper picks below. All these clothes need are a socialite-filled soiree and a jaunt through East Egg, and the novel will come to live.

Our Brooks Brothers Boutique opens today, Thursday, June 21 at 11AM ET.

- By Katie Flynn, Editor

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Choosing to wear jewelry doesn’t mean that you have to run the risk of looking like Flava Flav, Dennis Rodman, or Johnny Depp (not like there’s anything wrong with the last one). The key is to rock accessories in small, but personality-filled doses. And summer is definitely the time to try it out – earthy stones like lapis and coral bring a welcome vacation feel to office attire.

Our Scott Kay Men’s Jewelry Boutique is now open.

Gentlemen, we all know the difference the right tie can make. Luckily, this cheeky British brand has perfected the artform. With careful craftsmanship, top-notch materials, and a quirky-meets-dapper sensibility, it creates neckwear that’s packed with personality.

Our DUCHAMP London Menswear Boutique opens Friday, June 8, 2012 at 11AM ET.

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